MOVIE - WALKING TALL - Review Rating $$$$$ $ (OUT OF 10)

STARRING - The Rock (Chris Vaughn), Neal McDonough (Jay Hamilton), Johnny Knoxville (Ray Templeton), John Beasley (Chris Vaughn Sr.), Barbara Tarbuck (Connie Vaughn), Kristen Wilson (Michelle), Khleo Thomas (Pete) & Ashley Scott (Deni)

DIRECTOR - Kevin Bray (All About the Benjamins)

A remake of the 1973 film, of the same name, based on the true story of Sheriff Buford H. Pusser.

The original Walking Tall wasn't a cinematic classic but it did have a message. This 21st century remake is, by comparison, an empty vessel. This "new and improved" Walking Tall is merely an opportunity for the The Rock to flex his muscles and crack a few action hero one-liners. Oh yeah, by the way, he gets the girl too.

There is, in this instance, a direct correlation between the length of this movie (85 minutes) and the quality of the final product. While I'm the first to assail a movie for undue length there is a minimum amount of time required to tell a story well. This condensed retelling of the story barely has enough time for all the action, let alone character development and social commentary. If you were expecting a morality tale you'll be disappointed. If you just want to see the Rock bust a few heads then this is the movie for you.

Giving credit, where credit is due, Walking Tall has credible production values, decent action hero humour and passable to fair acting (The Rock has come a long way in this regard). Remarkably, the action sequences are only so-so. From an entertainment perspective, you'd be better served by renting the Rock's previous action adventure, The Rundown, then shelling out the big bucks to watch Walking Tall at your local multiplex.

Walking Tall is a slick but soulless remake that will only appeal to fans of The Rock and action movies.

Running time - 85 minutes

Alternative Reviews:

Roger Ebert's Review

Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review

Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

Walking Tall Official Web Site

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